Social Trend

On a chilly January night, the line at Maisy’s in Mt. Vernon was out the door. No, it wasn’t a hot new DJ or big-ticket fundraiser. It was an event for the Forgotten Cocktail Club, a group dedicated to old-school drinks that was started by B&O American Brasserie bar manager Brendan Dorr and Blackwater Distilling production manager Jon Blair. “Everyone wants their food to be local and organic, and that has trickled down to cocktails,” Dorr says. The Forgotten Cocktail Club, which formed in October and hosts bi-monthly events, is just one example of groups getting together to appreciate well-made drinks. There’s also Liquid Culture, which educates people about spirits, beer, wine, and coffee, and Post Prohibition, a cocktail consulting group that provides recipes and guidance for Speakeasy-era libations. “This is still a very vodka-friendly town, but people are coming out of their comfort zones more,” Dorr says. “It’s a fun time to be behind the bar.”